Picking the right footwear for the right activity is key to a successful outing. On the left, my Asolo FSN 95 backpacking boots. To the right, my Merrill Moab hiking shoes. Though they are the same size, there is a big difference between them. (Photo: Kim Fatica)

I have been following my Ohio nephew’s journeys on the Appalachian Trail with great envy. Matt, his brothers-in-law, Stephen and Tim, and their pal, Jeremy, have been taking on the trail, one section at a time. As one would expect, the photos have been spectacular, and the stories have been entertaining.

My nephew, Matt (white tee), with his buddy, Jeremy (far left), and his brothers-in-law, Steve (light blue), and Tim (Browns tee) at the Virginia-West Virginia border on Mile 19 of their 50-mile AT journey this spring. Half the crew wore low-cut shoes, while the other half wore ankle-supporting boots. (Photo: Stephen Lockhart)

This past May the boys covered 50 ambitious miles through the Virginia and West Virginia wilderness.

That last trip put some serious blisters on the soles of Matt’s feet. The mountainous terrain was mostly rocks and roots, and very different from the flat, groomed MetroPark trails where casual day hikers tread. The rough, off-camber ground placed a lot of stress on his feet, which were supporting not only his entire, body, but an additional 35-pound pack with a 100 oz. water bladder and two 32 oz. Nalgene bottles filled with more water.

I called him out on having the wrong footwear or even ill-fitting footwear in spite of his insistence that they fit fine. It reminded me of the suffering endured by one of my friends and fellow Troop 22 assistant scoutmasters when we made our Philmont trek in 2012. He had no fewer than 17 blisters on his feet and had gone through all of the crew’s moleskin trying to find some relief from the pain.

In Matt’s defense, he has only recently taken up backpacking within the last couple of years. He is an avid hunter and fisherman who has a passion for the outdoors, so his backpacking techniques are getting refinement through experience and this had to be a major refinement for him.

Matt's hiking boot that he wore on the AT this spring, the one that gave him blisters. The only real difference between it and my Merrill hiking shoes shown in the first photo is the height of the tops. The soles are about identical in composition and both are very flexible. (Photo: Matt Waggoner)

When I made a trip back to northeast Ohio in June, I had Matt dig out his boots. They were a pair of Columbia waterproof hiking boots, similar in composition to my Merrill hiking shoes: GoreTex mesh, suede, and light rubber with a pliable sole.

Hiking and backpacking are two entirely different activities and people often use hiking interchangeably with backpacking.

Because of this, many people think that a hiking boot is the same thing as a backpacking boot.

“Boot” only indicates a high top around or above the ankles rather than a low-cut shoe below the ankles.

They are surely not the same because the activities are very different.

Hiking is a general term that describes a light trek, often a walk in the woods with limited or no gear and no overnight stay.

Backpacking is a long hike that requires full gearing stored in a pack that includes a portable shelter (a tent or bivvy sack), sleeping bag and pad, extra clothes, cooking gear, food, and survival gear such as a water filtration system, knife, and a fire starter.

Because of the extra weight Matt was carrying, the terrain, and the length of the trek, he should have worn a backpacking boot.

If you take a look at the photo of my Asolo backpacking boots and my Merrill hiking shoes, you notice right away that the materials and protection around the perimeter of the footwear are different. The Merrills are very lightweight, have the waterproof mesh, and the soles and support around the edges are very pliable. Like Matt’s Columbia boots, they have a suede toe cap and little to no reinforcement on the sides of the boot.

A comparison of soles. Merrill hiking shoes on top, Asolo backpacking boots below. Both claim the same size (12), but are not the same length, illustrating the importance of a correct fit instead of a one-size-fits-all mentality. The softer rubber composite and flexible shank of the Merrills would not be a good choice for carrying a 35-40 pound pack over rugged terrain for any length of trail. The Merrills can be easily bent, but the Asolos are much stiffer. (Photo: Kim Fatica)

The Asolos are heavier and are mostly thick split cowhide with a very thick, hard rubber toe cap that comes over the top of the toe box, and there are more thick reinforcements on the side and at the heel. The soles are thicker, with a stiff shank to support my arches on uneven surfaces and under heavy loads. These boots were a Godsend during our descent from 12,440 foot-high Baldy Mountain, keeping me stable as we walked over marble-like rocks the size of fists. The toe caps and sides also prevented the boots from getting sliced up on sharper flat rocks. A couple of my fellow adult advisors lost chunks of their boot soles from it because they had boots with much softer rubber soles.

Now that there is a clearer understanding of what each shoe is designed for, it’s time to address proper fit.

The best lesson I ever learned with buying shoes is to always try them on. Look at the photo of the soles of my two outdoors shoes. They are both a size 12, a full size larger than I would normally wear. The soles are a different length, but the designs of the shoes are different and the manufacturers are different. Buying shoes for your feet is not the same as buying tires for your car, where everything has a standardized size that will fit multiple car models. Shoe manufacturers have different manufacturing techniques and the lasts (forms used to shape the shoes) that are used are all different.

My first pair of Merrill Moab hiking shoes were purchased in size 11 from the local Dillard’s store. They were comfortable when I tried them on, and walking on the carpet felt great. I took them home and wore them around the next day. Big difference. My left big toe kept touching the tip of the shoe, something I hadn’t noticed in the store. I wore them on a day hike and my feet were miserable by the end of the groomed, flat trail. Fortunately for me, I was able to return them and exchange them for one size up. They lasted through three years of hard wear.

The extra size did two things for me: 1.) My feet had more room to expand as they swelled and 2.) they had enough air circulation to keep them comfortable when it’s hot and insulated when it’s cold.

A good way to insure a better fit is to bring your hiking/backpacking socks with you. Cotton is not good for hiking or backpacking. Wool is the far better choice because of its moisture wicking properties, keeping your feet drier than cotton, which retains sweat. Make sure your socks are also nicely padded. If you wear special inserts for arch support, bring them along as well.

Short treks on flat, groomed trails don't require the same footwear as long excursions with heavy gear packs on rough terrain. Choose your footwear wisely. Refrain from using tennis shoes and cotton socks when hiking. A couple of our boys on this trek through these Florida oak hammocks received some fine blisters when they wore that combo. (Photo: Kim Fatica)

With your hiking/backpacking socks on and your special insoles (if you have them) in the boot, you need to stand up in the boots and wiggle your toes to see where they are in relationship to the end of the toe box (front of the boot). With the boots unlaced, you should be able to slide your foot a little forward and easily put a couple fingers behind your heel. If your toes touch and you have no room at the heel of the boot, you are setting yourself up for misery on the trail.

Toes that get jammed to the end of your boots will likely suffer from bruised nail beds that can lead to a fungal infection and even loss of the nail, along with the pain that comes with it. On the other hand, you also don’t want your boots to be sloppy, where your heels slip. That causes friction and blisters.

Not sure what brand is best? Many gear sites like REI, Backcountry.com, and Amazon have invaluable customer reviews. Check to see what they offer as their experiences with the product and don’t just look at the star ratings. Take some time to do some research and visit your local outfitter to see what the local experts have to say.

My final suggestion focuses on selecting the proper socks. Buying the right socks and sock liners is also as important as the shoe you select for your activity. Socks come in lightweight, midweight, and mountaineering styles. All have a different activity application, as do the material selection each may use.

I strongly recommend sock liners for long treks and backpacking excursions. A liner is a much lighter, thinner sock designed to be your first layer on your feet, followed by your hiking/backpacking sock of choice, followed by your boots or shoes. A sock liner will help to reduce friction against your skin and may also help keep them drier. I and others have used inexpensive knee-high women’s nylon hosiery with great success. No blisters, easy to rinse, and quick to dry and reuse.

This post was not an endorsement for any particular brand or style. What you ultimately choose is strictly a personal choice and only you can determine what fits the best and makes you happiest.

About This Blog

Kim Fatica is a marketing professional and former Emmy Award-winning television photojournalist and operations manager originally from Cleveland, Ohio. He’s also a lifelong volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, where he’s been involved with the program since he was a Cub Scout in 1970. He earned his Eagle Scout rank in 1976 and continued on in service as an adult leader, currently serving as an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 22 in Tampa.

He lived his dream of backpacking through the Sangre de Cristo mountain range with his son, Noah, at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. The 12-day trek during the summer of 2012 took them on a memorable 80-mile journey that went through areas near the historic Santa Fe Trail.

Kim earned his undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Bowling Green State University and holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Florida Institute of Technology.